I have a Winchester 1886 ELR (new edition, Japan manufacture, purchased in 2001) which I've decided I have to get serious about. By serious, I mean get it into shape to take hunting, which the simple open barrel rear sight is simply not adequate. I want to be able to use this rifle on general North American game out to 250 yards. As such, I've decided to go to a receiver or tang sight.

My first choice for an aperture sight is the Lyman tang sight, which I've mounted on an 1892 and an 1894 in the past, and I'm comfortable with it. But the "modern" 1886 was made with a tang safety, which precludes putting a tang sight on the gun unless I send it to a 'smith and have the tang safety disabled. The alternative is an adjustable receiver-mounted aperture sight, such as the old Redfield, or a Lyman. I haven't looked at the newer Lyman receiver sights, but have heard they're made of plastic. (I want to use this rifle out to 250+ yards, so an X/S express sight is NOT what I'm looking for...)

So, I'm looking for some opinions here: tang vs receiver, and if tang, who knows a reputable levergunsmith who does the tang safety disable job reliably?

Doc, send it to Turnbull MFG they can ditch the safety weld in a block and give Your rifle a nice charcoal blue if You want, or maybe some very nice case colors, Ive seen none better.

They can D&T your receiver for a Lyman 66 peep, the newer ones are not plastic, there aluminum, You can shop fleabay for an older steel 66, thats what I did, and sent it all to Turnbull, my rifle is an '86 in 50-110 WCF.

Gunner


edit: Doc Ill go find an old thread that shows some pics of my rifle, You can see Turnbulls charcoal bluing and an '86 w/ a Lyman peep mounted and see if its somethind You like, its current in the Big Bore levers section under best make/model for 475 Turnbull

I just mounted a new Marbles tang sight on my .45-70 Miroku Model 86-EL via using the longer tang screw only.

It fit right over & hid the tang safety, which I pinned in the "off" position.

Since the top tang's surface is slightly convex, and the Marble base's underside slightly concave, they mated tightly and never shifted zero through 5 years of hunting with it that way. I DID check the tang screw for tightness prior to every outing, though.

BTW - I also switched out the rear barrel sight for a Marble's folder, which allowed me a short-range (75yds) zero for the bbl sights, and a longer range (150yds) zero for the tang sight.
YMMV, on the zero distances desired.

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Thanks, guys. Good info from you both, I appreciate it.

Mine is going to Turnbull MFG one of these days...........

Ditto on the Marbles tang sight for the Miroku Winchester 1886, including covering most of the now nearly invisible tang safety.
It works great on my ,45-90. I also installed the Marbles folding hunting (barrel) sight so that I could use either, depending on circumstances. At close range(up to 50 yards)the open sight is fine for shooting game. It has taken one elephant, a leopard, and a running bison with the open sight. My longer range shooting at typical game is done with the tang sight.

Having two sights also provides backup if one is damaged in the field.
NOTE - on my rifle, the tang sight would not lie completely flat because the top of it touched the front tip of the comb, so a friend took off just enough wood to allow it to lie completely flat. This minor change made a marked improvement in using the open sight, especially when speed is important.

rangr44, where did you order your Marble's sights? Brownell's? I'm thinking I can get both installed and sighted-in well before my Wyoming speedgoat & whitetail hunt with EH76 and Frogman42 in October, then send the rifle to Turnbull over the winter for the full treatment.

last time i spoke with turnbull they wonted $600 to get rid of the safety! heck i only paid $600 for the gun new! the marble tang sight works fine with the safety there. you can get the bolt sight that came on the mod. 71 for $150 i think. the same co. that is making it will instal for $300. looks good. i took a bison with my 1886, worked ok for me. D O M I T !